German Study Visit

Since 1986 pupils in Year 7 or Year 8, who have been learning German for a few months have been given the opportunity to try out their language skills for real, without the additional challenge of staying with a family. We spend a week at a purpose-built centre, the Eichenkreuzheim, not far from Darlington's twin town Mülheim an der Ruhr.

Trips

Trips always include a visit to the pretty medieval town of Kempen and its wonderful swimming complex. There is a morning at our twin school, and sometimes an afternoon with a German family. Other trips might include a boat trip on the Ruhr or the Rhein or a day at Warner Brothers Movie World. Shopping is not forgotten, with a day in Moers, when the pupils are given money to buy their own lunch at the market.

Project Work

This consists of activities such as treasure hunts, price comparisons, shopping surveys and interviews in the street with passers-by, which are recorded amid much hilarity. The interviews might be the most daunting part, but they are always the most popular activity. Projects are written up in the evenings.

The Eichenkreuzheim

The centre is delightfully situated in a pine forest, five minutes by coach from Neukirchen-Vluyn, where much of the project work takes place. It has six- bedded rooms upstairs and a classroom/dining room and sitting rooms downstairs. Outside there are table tennis tables, table football, a football pitch and a volleyball court. The pupils do not have to cook, but they do have to wash up, lay the tables and keep the place tidy on a rota basis - a great sanction if needed!